Québec, Canada 2009

View Last Year's Blog: 2008 Northern New England Ride

2009 ALAME Ride Re-Dedication with Corrections and Additions

This year's ride is dedicated to:

Taghi Ansari, by his daughter-in-law, Louise and his son, Hamid
Sandi Bowman, 1941-1999, by her sister, Jane and her brother-in-law, George
Ronald Lalime, 1927-1999 Trekker #1 (number retired. He was in the first ever Trek Across Maine in 1986), by his daughter, Amy
Jean Mierop, 1932-1990
Virginia "Ginny" Siddall, 1929-2008, by her son, Howard C. Siddall ("Curt") and by her long-time friend, Liz Waldo
Kathryn Woods, 1920-2008, by Ruth Thibodeau, her daughter

This ride (and all my rides for ALAME) is done in memory of:
George Fischer
Blanche Fischer
Cookie Delcore
and Rose Delcore

Thoughts of these people who have suffered from tobacco are what keeps me going on these challenging rides. I think of them and of all my generous supportive friends and sponsors. My commitment to all these people living or passed on is what keeps me going up every hill(admittedly on foot or by bike).

Despite the fact that I had to suspend the Canadian portion of the ride, all the riding I do this summer for ALAME will be in their memory.

Date: 19 May Monday Sherbrooke, QC – Victoriaville, QC (Day 5)

Starting Point: Sherbrooke, QC
Ending Point: Victoriaville, QC
Via: Bromptonville, Windsor, Richmond, Cleveland, Danville, Warwick and Saint-Christophe-d’Arthabaska
Mileage: 64.5
Time: 7:58
Mph: 8.1
Terrain: mostly flat
Temperature High: 45-50
Temperature Low: 36
Lunch:
Dinner: chicken, mashed potatos, cole slaw
Weather: sunny
Wind: cross-winds and tail-winds
Lodging: Motel Le Victo
Cumulative Mileage: 310
Miles to Go: 200   
Projected Distance: 510
Percent Completed: 61%

    Today marked the first day when the Green Way (La Route Verte) was partitioned from the road itself for a significant distance. It was separated for nearly the entire distance and the surface was like that of the Erie Canal Bicycle Path- compacted crushed rock. Every now and then there would be a paved section which would make for a much quieter ride. The trail followed an old railroad bed and so most of the hills disappeared. This was great relief after the huge slopes that were everywhere from The VT-NH border until Sherbrooke.
    The path was virtually deserted and the only time there was a biker coming from the other direction, it was, for the most part, a racer who had neither the time nor inclination to say hello much less a conversation. I did run into two ground hogs and one very healthy-looking raccoon. At one point up ahead about 200 meters there was an animal that appeared similar to a Golden Retriever, but it seemed unlikely. So the identity of that one escaped me.
    It looks certain at this point that I am going to have to suspend the remainder of the expedition (from Québec City on). The reasons are many:

a) Poor planning of daily mileages. They should have been much less considering the terrain.
b) Long stretches with no means of mechanical/medical support should something happen
c) Due to a), no time to do anything but bike. Not possible to take time in a place and take pictures or interact with people when there were any to interact with.
d) Temperature… For 2 nights running, temperature hovered near the freezing point and I haven’t even reached the most northerly portion of the ride. Riding with the threat of frozen areas in the woods is unsafe in my estimation.
e) Weather…combined with d), today, for example, it looks as if it will rain or snow. Biking in that kind of weather is risky in itself (hypothermia despite good gear) and makes for a ride that is more of a forced slog than a ride to be enjoyed to some degree.

   As I mentioned yesterday, this decision has not been reached lightly. As a matter of fact I have had five days to reflect upon it. I feel an obligation to fulfill to all the people who put their trust in me to do this ride. I do also feel an obligation to foster my own health and safety. How many times did Admiral Peary attempt reaching to Pole? Was he sensible enough to abandon when circumstances dictated he do so? In this case, I guess I’m following his lead. The disappointment may be great for my sponsors; it is even greater for me. I don’t abandon projects offhandedly. I do hope that all sponsors will be understanding and know that my commitment to the American Lung Association of Maine hasn’t weakened. Neither has my commitment to staying healthy and safe so I can be around to ride next year.

Date: 18 May Sunday Richford, VT – Waterloo, Québec, Canada (Day 4)

Starting Point: Richford, VT

Ending Point: Waterloo, Québec, Canada

Via: Abercom, QC, Sutton, Brome, Bromont, Shefford

Mileage: 34.9

Time: 4:23

Mph: 8.0

Terrain: extremely hilly

Temperature High: 50’s

Temperature Low: 42.

Lunch: cream of carrot soup

Dinner: Hiker food fast-cook chili and beans

Weather: sunny

Wind: some headwinds as well as cross-winds

Lodging: Camping Ile Ste. Marie (Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada)

Cumulative Mileage: 245

Miles to Go: about 1,562     

Projected Distance: 1,807

Percent Completed: 14%

 

            This day was utterly draining between more hills and lack of food sources along the way. Normally I don’t like to munch on grass I find along the side of the road so that left, what? Not much until Sutton. It was such a cozy welcoming town with some of the best cappuccino I’ve ever tasted. The café there was stunning when I first walked in, because I had been on the road for hours and hours with no one to talk to except myself. Opening the door to the café was like releasing a genie. There was liveliness, conversations, coffee noises, typing noises (by the on-line denizens using the free wi-fi) and all-around life. It swam over and around me; truly an uplifting moment.

            It was so comfy there that I was loathe to leave too quickly. This, of course, left me with almost no daylight by the time I reached Waterloo.  Judging by the map and my current average speed, I would arrive in Sherbrooke sometime around midnight. This was no option. So I thought perhaps I could locate a taxi. I asked some young people about that and they said there wasn’t any, but they knew a guy who happened to be named, Jean Guy, who sometimes delivers people. So I was able to purchase a ride from his acquaintance whose name I couldn’t tell you. He said his name for me a couple of times. Over our time together, he said a lot of things a couple of times and it was only the occasional word that I could understand and possibly guess his meaning. I speak decent, not fluent, French, and this person’s accent had be stymied. So he drove me the rest of the way to Sherbrooke. It took him an hour. Either my guidebook or my GPS was way off because there was no way I could have made Sherbrooke until the next morning. It was far.

            It was a decision that I didn’t take lightly, but there are a number of factors that are leading me to consider abandoning this expedition. More on that later.

            At the campground in Sherbrooke, I missed the snack bar by 3 minutes. I had no change for a shower or for laundry. On the positive side, the caretaker was there and he helped me eventually solve all of these dilemmas.

            After this day, with its many challenges and with much reflecting on the next move, I didn’t sleep much.

            You might have noticed by now that there are no photos… this is because the ride has been so much work and so time-pressured that there hasn’t been any time to sit back and enjoy the scenery. That in itself is an issue.

Date: 17 May Saturday Lyndonville, VT – Richford, VT (Day 3)

Starting Point: Lyndonville, VT

Ending Point: Richford, VT

Via: Egypt, VT, West Burke, VT, Perry, VT, Barton, VT, Orleans, VT, Coventry, VT, Newport Center, VT, North Troy, VT, Highwater, Québec, Canada.

Mileage: 62.9

Time: 8:10

Mph: 7.7

Terrain: extremely hilly

Temperature High: 50

Temperature Low: 45. With the high headwinds, it is certain that there was a wind chill factor.

Lunch: egg salad sandwich

Dinner: Chinese Veggie Delight

Weather: partly sunny

Wind: stiff headwinds most of the day at least 15mph

Lodging: The Crossing Motel

Cumulative Mileage: 210

Miles to Go: about 1,633     

Projected Distance: 1,843

Percent Completed: 11%

 

            The Northeast Kingdom of Vermont has a great deal of wide-open space, not many people and some claim, at least via Google, that the area is 20-30 years behind the rest of the state in terms of multiculturalism, technology and economics. The place where I stayed couldn’t even guarantee that a room was actually non-smoking. The first room had a subtle aroma of burned tobacco covered over by deodorizers that weren’t working. It was, despite that challenge, a real gift to have found it.

Thanks to my experience with Adventure Cycling Association during my fund-raising Tour of Vermont in 2002, I was aware of a way to get around going over the notch of Jay Peak. In order to avoid the pass, one has to go into Canada on a lonely stretch of road that extends from North Troy to near Richford and then go back into Canada on a different route. When I went into Canada near North Troy, the border guard wanted to know if I had any weapons or “Rambo”-sized knives. He didn’t doubt me when I said that would be too heavy.

The unfortunate thing was that by the time I made it back to the US border, night was imminent. I’m a firm believer in not bicycling at night. My destination for today was Frelighsburg, Québec, Canada, but the headwinds were so constant, powerful and draining that I had no energy to speed up and there certainly were no taxi services available in the area.

So Richford was my new destination.

Date: 16 May Friday West Bethel, ME – Lyndonville, VT (Day 2)

Starting Point: West Bethel, ME

Ending Point: Lyndonville, VT

Via: Gilead, ME, Shelburne, NH, Gorham, Randolph, Bowman, Starr King, Jefferson, Riverton, Lancaster, Lunenburg, VT, Miles Pond, North Concord, Concord, East St. Johnsbury.

Mileage: 74.1    

Time: 8:25

Mph: 8.8

Terrain: extremely hilly

Temperature High: 60

Temperature Low: 45

Lunch: turkey sub

Dinner: corn chowder – a healthy heap

Weather: rain, heavy at times, sunny when not raining (which wasn’t often)

Wind: stiff headwinds

Lodging: Moonlight in Vermont Bed and Breakfast

Cumulative Mileage: 147.5

Miles to Go: about 1,696     

Projected Distance: 1,843

Percent Completed: 8%

 

      The hills in New Hampshire were bad enough…going over Gorham Heights as they call it was slow going. So slow, in fact, that it proved faster to walk.

      Crossing into Vermont was very deceptive. The road went right along the river and was flat. This was certainly encouraging. That was until about 1 mile into the state. It was then, that she revealed her true contours. Hills aplenty. Hills on hills.

      This day was very similar to yesterday in that the primary thought was getting to the end of the day before dark. One primary difference, though, was that I got to enjoy the roller coaster hills in the rain. Not complaining…just making an observation. At the least my destination was a fine old Vermont house run by Dick and Shirley. They were wonderfully welcoming and helpful. I admit that this accommodation was a far cry from camping in a tent in the wilds of West Bethel. This trip, however, is really a mixture of places.

      The breakfast in the morning was phenomenally delicious and homey. There was another couple and a mom with a young boy and a college junior staying there and we had fine camaraderie which had to end all too soon.

Date: 15 May Friday Brunswick, ME – West Bethel, ME (Day 1)

Starting Point: Brunswick, ME

Ending Point: West Bethel, ME

Via: Topsham, Lisbon Falls, Lisbon, Lewiston, Auburn, Minot, Mechanic Falls, Oxford, Norway, South Paris, Paris, West Paris, South Woodstock, Bryant Pond, Locke Mills, and Bethel.

Mileage: 73.4    

Time: 7:59

Mph: 9.2

Terrain: extremely hilly

Temperature High: 80

Temperature Low: 55

Lunch: Hannaford Cobb Salad, potato salad(.9 pounds) and protein drink

Dinner: hiker food – quick prep parmesan pasta

Weather: extremely sunny

Wind: occasional

Lodging: Pleasant River Campground

Cumulative Mileage: 73.4

Miles to Go: about 1,761     

Projected Distance: 1,843

Percent Completed: 4%

 

      The first day is always full of apprehension and excitement. Is all equipment is working order, including the body? Have I forgotten to pack anything? Have all sponsors submitted their pledges to me? The checklist is rather lengthy and even with an official equipment checklist from my 2006 ride; there are still things that are forgotten. I guess it’s time to update the list.

      This ride isn’t beginning with unbridled confidence, because I’ve not been able to put in the kind of training I was hoping. The primary thought is will I make it to the destination by the end of the day – before dark?

      In this instance, I did make it with half an hour to spare. Part of the issue, of course, is not leaving early enough. The alarm was set for 5am, but the bike wasn’t yet packed. It wasn’t until 9:30 that I was actually able to ride down the road. It seems like it was about 8pm when I rolled up to the camp registration window.

      On the up-side, it was an uneventful day.

      This campground was the one at which I stayed in 2005 when I was doing my circumnavigation of the State of Maine. Some of you might remember that Mike, the owner, came to my tent the next morning with egg and cheese muffins. I knew that was of life’s marvelous events, never to be repeated. So I didn’t come here expecting that. When I asked Mike if he had any food in the store I could purchase for breakfast, he said that he was pretty much out of everything. This wouldn’t work that well for me since it was a good 20 miles to Gorham, NH, the first place where breakfast items could be found. I noticed there was a camper just next to the tenting area that showed signs of life. I asked Mike how friendly the people in that camper were. He said, “Oh, they’re pretty friendly. It’s my mother.” He yelled down to her, “Carol, can you give this gentleman breakfast?” She yelled back, “Sure!” And so it was, I was able to start the day with enough carbs  to make it to Gorham and have fine breakfast conversation with Mike’s Mom over eggs, donut, juice and coffee. The food was necessary for the body; the conversation was good for the soul.

2009 ALAME Canada + Trek Across Maine Ride Dedication

This year's ride is dedicated to:

Taghi Ansari, by his daughter-in-law, Louise and his son, Hamid
Sandi Bowman 1941-1999, by her sister, Jane and her brother-in-law, George
Ronald Lalime 1927-1999 Trekker #1 (number retired. He was in the first ever Trek Across Maine in 1986), by his daughter, Amy
Jean Mierop 1932-1990
Virginia "Ginny" Siddall 1929-2008, by her son, Howard C. Siddall ("Curt") and by her long-time friend, Liz Waldo
Kathryn Woods 1920-2008, by Ruth Thibodeau, her daughter

This ride (and all my rides for ALAME) is done in memory of:
George Fischer
Blanche Fischer
Cookie Delcore
and Rose Delcore

Thoughts of these people who have suffered from tobacco are what keeps me going on these challenging rides. I think of them and of all my generous supportive friends and sponsors. My commitment to all these people living or passed on is what keeps me going up every hill(admittedly on foot or by bike).

View 2008 Ride Newsletter